Paper 2, Section II, E

Classical Dynamics
Part II, 2009

A symmetric top of unit mass moves under the action of gravity. The Lagrangian is given by

L=12I1(θ˙2+ϕ˙2sin2θ)+12I3(ψ˙+ϕ˙cosθ)2glcosθL=\frac{1}{2} I_{1}\left(\dot{\theta}^{2}+\dot{\phi}^{2} \sin ^{2} \theta\right)+\frac{1}{2} I_{3}(\dot{\psi}+\dot{\phi} \cos \theta)^{2}-g l \cos \theta

where the generalized coordinates are the Euler angles (θ,ϕ,ψ)(\theta, \phi, \psi), the principal moments of inertia are I1I_{1} and I3I_{3} and the distance from the centre of gravity of the top to the origin is ll.

Show that ω3=ψ˙+ϕ˙cosθ\omega_{3}=\dot{\psi}+\dot{\phi} \cos \theta and pϕ=I1ϕ˙sin2θ+I3ω3cosθp_{\phi}=I_{1} \dot{\phi} \sin ^{2} \theta+I_{3} \omega_{3} \cos \theta are constants of the motion. Show further that, when pϕ=I3ω3p_{\phi}=I_{3} \omega_{3}, with ω3>0\omega_{3}>0, the equation of motion for θ\theta is

d2θdt2=glsinθI1(1I32ω324I1glcos4(θ/2))\frac{d^{2} \theta}{d t^{2}}=\frac{g l \sin \theta}{I_{1}}\left(1-\frac{I_{3}^{2} \omega_{3}^{2}}{4 I_{1} g l \cos ^{4}(\theta / 2)}\right)

Find the possible equilibrium values of θ\theta in the two cases:

(i) I32ω32>4I1glI_{3}^{2} \omega_{3}^{2}>4 I_{1} g l,

(ii) I32ω32<4I1glI_{3}^{2} \omega_{3}^{2}<4 I_{1} g l.

By considering linear perturbations in the neighbourhoods of the equilibria in each case, find which are unstable and give expressions for the periods of small oscillations about the stable equilibria.